The importance of being uncool

This week I have purchased two books.  

I read voraciously as a child and continued to do so well into my twenties - I was young and had time.  Nowadays I have less youth and less time.  I also have a day job that involves a lot of reading……so by the time I get home, the last thing I want to do is pick up a book.

Matters are further complicated by the fact that the books I’m usually drawn to tend to focus on the creatively hideous ways in which human beings have historically treated each other, the lies we tell ourselves and others……and the general confusion and discomfort of existence.

Consequently, the thought of buying and reading a book - nay, two books - just for kicks and giggles, caught me somewhat by surprise.  

The first book arrived today: The Uncool by Cameron Crowe.

To the general public, Cameron Crowe is probably best known for being the guy that wrote and directed the film Jerry Maguire (although for my part, I am more fond of a couple of his less well known films: the romantic comedy Singles and the autobiographical Almost Famous). 

But to people who worship at the altar of rock and roll, Mr Crowe is one of the greatest rock writers and critics in the world.  He was touring with Led Zeppelin and writing for Rolling Stone while still at highschool.

Of course, it’s always a bit dangerous to read about people whose creative work you admire.  Sometimes you find out that they were (or still are…) a dick.  But that’s a risk I’m prepared to take - especially with Mr Crowe.

If you haven’t seen Almost Famous……well, you should.  It’s a great film that tells a great story.  It is essentially a coming of age story - but not in the typical fashion.  And it’s filled with wonderful lines - especially from rock critic, Lester Bangs (brilliantly played by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman):

“The Doors? Jim Morrison? He's a drunken buffoon posing as a poet.  Give me The Guess Who. They’ve got the courage to be drunken buffoons……which makes them poetic.”

"Great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love." 

"You cannot make friends with the rock stars... These people are not your friends.  You know, these are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of the rock stars and they will ruin rock 'n' roll and strangle everything we love about it... And then it just becomes an industry of……cool." 

"Be honest...and unmerciful." 

But my favourite - and arguably the best - line is this:

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool."  

I think it’s going to be a good read.